Patapon 3 PSP
  • Publisher: SCEA
  • Release Date: Apr 12, 2011
User Score
6.3 out of 10

Mixed or average reviews- based on 18 Ratings

User score distribution:
  1. Positive: 9 out of 18
  2. Mixed: 4 out of 18
  3. Negative: 5 out of 18

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  1. Oneiros42
    Apr 16, 2011
    3
    I don't think I've ever been as disappointed by a game as Patapon 3. The first two games were charming, innovative, and fun. There was grinding to be done, but it wasn't critical to the regular campaign, just the after-game extras. The in-game world felt alive, with critters to hunt, enemy tribes to fight, and the occasional boss.

    And now we have Patapon 3, where everything is differen    t. The formerly charming tribal-style music has gone electric. You no longer lead an army, just a squad of four. There are no more mini-games. You can't forge weapons or armor anymore, just upgrade what you find in the field. The skill system is completely mysterious, there is no way to find out what skill a class will get at what level. Stats are crammed into a tiny box that force you to scroll up and down to find basic information.

    And let's talk about the actual gameplay. You GRIND. Over, and over, and over again. Each stage is given a recommended experience level, which is completely FALSE. I can't stress that enough. Stages that are rated 5+ typically require at least 9 to make it through reliably. For every new stage in the campaign, you'll have to grind old ones about 20 times to get your squad to a high enough level to proceed.

    There's also the new feature of having the regular monsters you find in the stages be much harder than the bosses. When you get to a boss, you will actually feel relieved, because (since most of them are based on bosses from the older games) they're actually balanced, and you can fight them intelligently and have a chance of winning with whatever classes you bring. On the other hand, there are stage monsters that will wipe out your squad in a single hit unless you set your squad up with a very specific set of classes. Anyone who's played the other games knows that there wasn't any monsters or boss you couldn't beat if you didn't know how. If the claws go up, retreat. If the claws go back, defend. It didn't matter which troop classes you brought, you could beat anybody. Not anymore. Now it doesn't matter if you know how, if you're not high enough level or you set your squad to the wrong classes, you'll still get crushed. This is not me complaining about monsters that keep killing me, this is me talking about poor game design.

    As for what the game gets right, there's... well, there are lots more class types. Oh wait, only kind of, because there are no more Rarepons to choose, each class is a different Rarepon. So I guess there's still actually less options for your squad (and I'm still annoyed at not being able to say "army" instead). OH! And there's a drum pattern that pauses the game. Which is nice, since that's been asked for since the first game.

    ...

    Yeah, that's really all the good I can say about the game.

    I really never thought this day would come, because for the first time I'm regretting the purchase of a Patapon game. Naturally the decision is up to you, but if you thoroughly enjoyed the first two of the series, give this one a pass, it's a big step backward.    … Expand
  2. Chocobean
    Apr 19, 2011
    3
    As a rhythm game, it simply fails: Remember the trailer for Patapon 1? (http://youtu.be/-hMN80eCWtI) That game was about "druming to the rhythm". That's all changed. It is now very easy to get a perfect 4 beat, because even then you will still lose, a lot. Winning is all about gearing up and grinding for levels. not rhythm. The enemies no longer give you enough time (one measure) to react, and your Hatapon, who cannot be leveled up or wear armor, will die in one hit, failing your entire mission, dropping the precious loot that lets you actually get through the game. Djinn (aka Miracles) mode is button mashing craziness instead of joyous chanting. Also gone is the groovy quick-time rhythm happiness of multi-player egg stages ending fun. I'm not a fan of the new epileptic art style, the juvenile dialogue, the generic rock music, the cramped menus, the convoluted stats, or the new items that all reek of "trying too hard". The desolate landscape, the lack of celebrations, the stone-cold Meden, and ugly looking enemies are the most apparent "new features". But to each their own, afterall.

    My reason for the score is that Patapon should be about music and rhythm. Having failed at delivering a musical game, they have failed completely.    … Expand
  3. kupibl
    Oct 22, 2011
    3
    This game ruined the previous games feel, the grinding is a joke, the mission "suggested level" is a joke, the multiplayer concept isn't vital, it is only to ease up the grinding. Lots of bugs. Getting stuck behind trapdoor. If you dont have any close combat attackers, dealing with close obstacles or enemies with just arrows is awful. Miracles gone. The watchtower pon spots an extra boss, and what a coincidence it is the spider thing that needs rain so it can be hit. Rain is now summoned by presence of a certain class in the battle. If you don't have that class yet, you are effed, the battle's lost. Good job. Stupid clownish patapon dialogs. Perfect drum hits are now nearly automatical, even if you are clearly off beat. Meden turned into a stone represents pretty much what's left of the previous two games.… Expand

Critic Reviews

All reviews »
Metascore
74 out of 100

Mixed or average reviews - based on 41 Critics

Critic score distribution:
  1. Positive: 21 out of 41
  2. Mixed: 19 out of 41
  3. Negative: 1 out of 41
  1. Pelit (Finland)
    Oct 20, 2011
    77
    A pretty and very entertaining 2D RTS slash bemani game. There's nothing quite like it, unless you count earlier Patapons. A bit repetitive, though. [May 2011]
  2. PALGN
    Jun 5, 2011
    65
    The jaded mechanics of Patapon 3 are masked behind a stunning piece of art and repetitive gameplay, but it does enough to keep the fans happy.
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  3. LEVEL (Czech Republic)
    May 25, 2011
    70
    Patapon 3 is an amazing audiovisual game working based on proven principles. In the ever improving competition in mobile gaming Patapon could feel bit obsolete. [Issue#204]
See all critic reviews »